When the #Islamic_ State released the video of the beheading of about 18 pro Bashar al-#Assad men this week in November 2014, it was accompanied with one of its latest releases: a nasheed (a song) called Lana al-Murhafat لنا المرهفات, it means: we own the sharp swords. The words, of this nasheed are similar to what goes on in the video: cutting heads and calls for Jihad, it appeared first in a video release entitled Laheeb al-Harb لهيب الحرب (the Flames of War), in which we see the execution of the tens captured pro Assad soldiers of al-Tabaqa Airport (August 2014). It also appeared in the video entitled fa-sharedd-bihm man khalfahum فشرد بهم من خلفهم

#Muslim Gospel was and is a thriving form in the Muslim World. , but, for the last few years a #Jihadi_Gospel emerged to take center stage. This new style is getting lots of playtime through an array of mediums: mostly free of charge. In it, there is no music, but special effects like sounds of war horses murmuring in battle, swords, machine guns, and explosions. There is a singer and a chorus, but, this brand calls the song a Nasheed, and the one singing called Munshed. Some of those Munsheds are fighting in the front lines, while others in a way bask in the limelight and live an “ordinary” life.

Today Jihadi groups like the #Islamic_State, #al-Nusra, Ansar al-Shari’ah, and others, promote themselves constantly. Some times each of these groups have their own Munshids/singers producing on a higher frequency Anasheed/songs. The propaganda machine of Jihadi groups had became very complicated and, of course, up to date. They improved a lot what previous jihadi groups had done.

The production quality of Jihadi songs improved with time, with high quality HD productions lately. Here are the top 5 songs of the year 2014 so far based on the usage of the songs in propaganda and actual war videos. Some of these songs were produced three or four years ago, while others are new and made especially for the occasion. Another thing to note: millions view and listen to them, while hundred share them on social networking platforms. Although there is a sense of repetitiveness, but these songs are done well and very catchy.

Taking into consideration what had happened recently, regarding the emergence of the Islamic State (Formerly known as the Islmaic State of al-Iraq and al-Sham ISIS), this Nasheed (song) is number one. It is found in almost all of their latest videos celebrating the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate, that is the Islamic State. This song tells of the “successful” story of this group, from mobilization to victory.

The /Munshed/singer is Maher Mush’al, a.k.a Abu Zubayr al-Jazrawi, a Saudi (Born, al-Qasim القصيم 1989) who resides now in al-Raqqa, under the flag of the Islamic State (Formerly the Islamic State of Iraq wa-al-Sham ISIS). He had sworn allegiance ( البيعة ) to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the new “Khalifa” Maher was a rising star in his country. He performed Nasheeds on al- Bidayah TV Channel قناة البداية, and participated in festivals. Sometime in the last two years, he moved into Syria, and his tweets started telling about his new journey. He is seen also in videos released by the ISIS showing their missionary work within Syria. ISIS uses him, as obvious, to sing in these meetings, that had been held since ISIS were able to. He is the perfect missionary. His pictures shows a young man dressed up, like what he thinks the early Muslims did, brandishing an AK47. There is less of a battle hardened persona in his pictures, not as much as the lyrics of his song: the Number One Jihadi song these days.

The lyrics starts with the praise of the Islamic State and claim that it lighted the universe with its arrival. Then it goes on to credit the Islamic State with the feat of “erecting the religion,” by applying the rules we see in the land under their control. Then, after “establishing the religion” the light of Khilafa is set to be lit. It was first in Iraq and now in al-Sham (Syria). Then the song goes on to describe the dogma and leaders of this Islamic Dawla: “A straight path as witnessed by events, and the leaders are far from any suspicion.” So, since we have a straight path and great leaders: why don;t you join us. The song invites those who want to support “righteousness” to join the state that had been build on the remnants of the “best missionaries,” he means here the suicide bombers. The song goes on to invite people to the battle front, then it ends with an advice and a description of the hardships one could find in his Jihad.
يادوله ألأسلام نورتي ألدنا جادت سماك بوافل ألبركات
O’State al-Islam you lightened up the earth…your sky graced us with lots of blessings
لما أقمت الدين فاح نسيمه فتلذذت من عطره نسماتي
When you erected the Religion, its smell emerged that I enjoyed its perfumes
فأعدوا نورخلافة الرحمن في أرض العراق فـ فاز بالرحمات
So they prepared the light of the Rahman Khilafa in the land of Iraq which won these mercies
فاستبسم ألشجعان من أبطالنا رفعوا بشام اصرح الرايات
So, the brave ones out of our heroes and raised the bannered the most true banners
نهج قويما والمواقف شاهدا أمرائنا بعد عن الشبهات
A straight forward path, what we did witnesses to this…our princes are far from any suspicion
يامن يريد الحق فأنصر دوله قامت على اشلاء خير دعاة
He who wants righteousness support a state that was erected on the remnants of the best missionaries
يامن له قلب سميع مبصرا أختر طريقك يا أخ الجبهات
He who has a heart that sees and hear chose the path of the front, oh brother
ما عاد وقت للنزاع فساحتي ملئى بأشواكا وبالعثراتي
There is no time to squabble now because my path is filled with thorns and hurdles…

2- Qumm wa-da’ ‘anka al-ruqada قم ودع عنك الرقاد

Translation: Get up and let go your complacency.
Singer/Munshed: Abu Ali (Musa al-‘Umayra) (https://twitter.com/AboaliMosa)
This is the ultimate recruiting song for many Jihadi groups. All of them use it with videos from their battles. There are tens of different variations of videos with this song. Chechneya, Khattab, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen…etc, one could find this song imposed over battle footage from the many battlefield the Jihadis were in. Some of the footage include warriors on horsebacks, referring to the days of the early Muslims: this footage is taken from Hollywood films sometimes. This Nasheedis filled with sound effects: horses, swords, machine guns, and explosions.

This Nasheed (song) is very combative and upbeat. It calls right from the start to get up and do not be lazy. Islam had “came back.” al-Jihad had been declared. The second verse explains how things are going to be done: he chants” We, with the machine gun, had came back to command things.” It goes on to say that the only life that should be looked after is the tough road of Jihad, not caring about death in these bad times. The last line is very ominous: ” We came with a machine gun and al-Quran.” This is in line with the famous logo ISIS, and other militant use: “A book (al-Quran) leads and a sword that support” كتاب يهدي وسيف ينصر.

You would think that this song is produced in a lawless mountainous area packed with Jihadis, but, no, it was done by al- Munshed Abu ali, in some fancy studio in the Arabian Peninsula. Abu Ali (Musa al-‘Umayra) is a well known Munshed that had been around for a long time. His Albums been spiting fire for over a decade. He is responsible for some of the biggest Jihadi Nasheeds: like Jaljalat جلجلت, which was super popular when the American Army was in Iraq. This later Nasheed (Jaljalat) appears in hundreds of videos showing IED’s and other military acts.

A video with English Subtitles:

Note: this video with English translation has drums added, something the Islamic State’s music production would not agree to use.
قم ودع عنك الرقاد

Translation: In war, we are lions that know no fear
By al-Munshed: Abu Osaid (Twitter: https://twitter.com/Abo_Osaid2)
Abu Osaid , Omar al-Habshi, is a real deal Yemeni veteran of Jihad. He fought all over with Jihadis, including Bosnia and Afghanistan. Now, no one knows his whereabouts. His twitter account is nothing special, and most of his tweets are about events where he is not present, and are mostly attacks on the Shia, Seculars, traitors, munafiqeen….etc. He is of Yemeni origin.
The lyrics of this Nasheed are very confrontational. Things are cut, as the norm in Jihadi Gospel, into black and white. It has been used a lot recently by ISIS and al-Nusra and many other groups in their video production. In it, Abu Osaid speaks in the name of a group. He uses “We.” like many Munsheds. Of course, his group is a fighting militant knights afraid of none, but Allah.

This nasheed/song starts with the statement that “We in wars are lions that knows no fear.” First he gives a description to the group he belongs to: “They are hawks flying very high in the sky.” Then to the horses, where the writer of this Nasheed talks about the relation between his group and horses. They had a very long tradition together. After horses, now, it is the call from Allah, for whom the life of the group is ready for sacrifice. It is about Islam and supporting it, and if one dies while doing this: then they are Martyrs, with all of what this entails of great points with Allah. Then, the Nasheed goes on to describe the battle scene, and after that it goes back to describe their relation with Allah. This relation is summed in a statement: “It is only to Allah that we bow.” The Nasheed ends with asking the mothers, and sisters of the Jihadis to help them nurse the wounds of these Mujahideen who are fighting the “treacherous.” He also asks these mothers and sisters to be proud, because their loved one has brought victory.
نحن في الحرب أسودٌ لانهاب : وصقورٌ سامياتٌ في السماء
In Wars we are lions that know no fear…and hawks flying very high in the sky
صهوات الخيل كانت مهدنا : وعليها قد توارثنا الإباء
The horse backs was our cradle, and on it we inherited pride.
نحن فرسان لنا الخيل مهود : إن دعا الداعي أجبنا للنداء
We are knight that horses are its cradle, if the caller (Allah) called we responded to his call.
في سبيل الله نحيا ونموت : بحياة العز أو موت الفداء
For the sake of Allah we live and die, with the life of pride or the death of sacrifice.
وإذا ماهتف الداعي إلى : نصرة الإسلام لبينا النداء
And if a caller called for: the support of Islam we responded to the call.
في سبيل الله نحيا في إباء : وإذا متنا فإنّا الشهداء
For the sake of Allah we live in pride: and if we die we are martyrs
وإذا ما أزّ في الجو الرصاص : جاوبته بالصدى شم الجبال
And if the bullets started screaming in the air: it was responded to by the high mountains echo
وإذا الحرب بدت أنيابها : سارعت أبطالنا نحو القتال
And if the teeth of war appeared: our heroes to war they rushed
نتحدى الموت لانخشى الردى : نضرب الأعدا في ساح النزال
We challenge death not fearing to die: hitting out enemy in battle
ولغير الله لانحني الجباه : لا ولن نخضع إلا للإله
Only for Allah we bow: no and we would not submit but for Allah
منه نرجو النصر وهو المرتجى : إنه خالقنا جل علاه
From him we ask victory and he our refuge: he is our creator glorious his highness
ليس من مات شهيداً ميتا : إنما في جنة الخلد الحياه
The one who is martyred is not dead: but alive in the perpetual paradise alive
ضمدي يا أم جرحي واعلمي : أن جرحي التاج إذ يعلو الجبين
O’Mother wrap the wound and know: that my wound is the crown on my head
واذكري يا أخت بالفخر أخاً : راح يسعى لقتال الغادرين
O my sister remember proudly a brother: who went seeking to fight the treacherous
وإذا مات شهيداً فافخري : وإذا عاد فبالنصر المبين
And if he die a martyr: be proud: and so when he come with the obvious victory.

This Nasheed is done by Abu Abd al-Malek, a.k.a Munshed al-Umma (The Munshed of the nation: i.e The Muslim Nation, or Umma). He has a very confusing existence, and controversies involving his trip between a Munshed, singing without music, to a Mutreb (Singer) who sings with music. He also recorded with the band Mdawi مداوي in Saudi Arabia. Normally, all Munsheds have great voices, because it is the voice that has to carry a huge load. But, the voice of Abu Abd al-Malek is just amazing; a cut above the rest.

This nasheed/song was used a lot by Palestinian militant groups because it talks about al-Quds/ Jerusalem. But also, this song was widely used in videos during the last couple of years from Syria and Iraq. Almost all groups fighting in Syria used it with footage of their battles.

This gnashed/song talks about the intention and will to fight, and how “We” are going to be in numbers going to deter them from their bad practices. “Our” goal is to return the usurped right using all of our might. It is written in the ….

The last two lines of this Nasheed are very ominous.

سنخوض معاركنا معهم
We are going to battle them
و سنمضي جموعا نردعهم
We are going in crowds to deter them
و نعيد الحق المغتصب
And return the usurped right
و بكل القوة ندفعهم
And with all might we push them
بسلاح الحق البتاري
With the cutting weapon of righteousness
سنحرر ارض الاحراري
We gonna liberate the land of the free
و نعيد الطهر الى القدس
And return purity to al-Quds
من بعد الذل و ذا العاري
After humiliation and shame
و سنمضي ندك معاقلهم
We gonna shell hard their bases
بدوي دائما يقلقهم
With a mighty sound that always perplexed them
و سنمحوا العار بأيدينا
And we will wash the shame with our hands
و بكل القوة نردعهم
And with all the might deter them
لن نرضى بجزء محتل
We will not accept a part that is occupied
لن نترك شبرا للذل
We are not going to leave a …. to humilation
ستمور الارض و تحرقهم
The land will erupt and burn them
في الارض براكين تغلي
In the land there are volcanos that are boiling

5- Ummati qad laha fajrun أمتي قد لاح فجر

Translation: My Umma, a new dawn had been visible
By: al-munshed Abu Yaser.

The importance of this Nasheed, also, comes from the recent rise of the Islamic State (formerly ISIS). So this song appears in lots of the new videos coming from Syria and Iraq recently. There is not that much known about the Munshed Abu Yaser, who keeps a lower profile. There is a famous Egyptian Munshed by the name Yaser Abu Isma’il, but he is not Abu Yaser the Munshed of Ummati qad laha fajrun.

The Nasheed starts on a positive note: there is a new dawn. The State of Islam had been erected with the sacrifices of the faithful and those who fear Allah, who put their souls with conviction so Islam is erected to rule. He then calls upon his Ummah and asks her to expect good things, because victory is near since the Islamic State had emerged, as Allah has said. This Islamic State, according to Abu Yaser are, had rises to crate glory and usher a step out of darkness. He then goes on to bring back again those who sacrificed their lives for this goal to be achieved. Then he asks his Ummah (nation) to be generous with sacrifices to achieve these lofty goals. Victory is not going to be achieved without the blood of those true believers. The nasheed ends with more praise for those who are sacrificing for the sake of Allah.
أُمّتي قَدْ لاحَ فَجرٌ فَإرقُبي النصر المُبين
O’My Ummah, a dawn is looming, so expect the clear victory

دَولةُ الإسلام قامَت بدِماء الصّادِقين
The State of islam was erected with the blood of the truthful.

دَولةُ الإسلام قامَت بِجهاد المُتّقين
The State of islam was erected with the Jihad of the righteous.